He flusters, checking the room again before turning his back to Laasya. It was necessary. You are in grave danger here. And I am your only true ally, Michael. It was foolish of me to think I could keep your bloodline from you. We will talk. But not here. Rest first.

Anger churns. I still have no idea if he’s on my side or not.

At least I have a name. An odd sort of relief floods through me, some tight inner fist I’ve carried my whole life loosening inside my chest. I may be related to a raving egomaniac who raised the dead, but I belong. My parents were Sabels. Okay, it’s a bloodline resulting from some fucked-up experiment, and they were probably murdered for that very reason, but knowing their surname, my surname, is finally something concrete I can call my own.

So the parchment was directing them to Blackriver. Why, if the Guardians would only execute them? What was it they needed here? Who?

Quinton smiles and pats my shoulder, mostly for appearances, I think. “And so you see, you must rest, my boy.”

I frown. The councilor was head of Blackriver until twenty years ago. What is he not telling me? I’ll wait for our conversation, though. I want him on his own when I grill him.

I slump back onto the bed, sitting still while the dizziness passes, then twist around to Laasya. She’s finished her conversation with the nurse and watches me with a tight brow. Her pale face accentuates her glazed eyes. I reach and take her hand. “Laasya, I’m so sorry. I—”

“Don’t,” she says and shuffles across the bed to sit beside me. She throws her arms around my waist for a side hug, burying her face in my chest. “I thought we’d lost you.”

“Your heart stopped for some time,” Quinton explains softly. “It was a shock.”

I fold my arms around the young witch and tuck her close. Her skinny frame feels fragile inside my hold. “Hey, I’m all right. Takes more than that to kill me off. What about you? I hurt you. I’m so sor—”

“Don’t,” she snaps again. She looks up, her glasses askew over intent brown eyes. “It wasn’t you. It wasn’t your fault. He used you.”

Alexei used me, all right. Hot rage simmers beneath the stone in my chest. I can’t help feeling responsible, though. I wanted him, wanted to be with him, and hurt people trying to reach him. How can Laasya forgive me so easily?

Her doe-like eyes harden. “I’m going to find an answer to the Blood Call. I’m going to find a way to free you. Then you won’t ever have to worry about his influence again.”